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Sunday, May 11, 2008
Ind. Gov't. - "Same-sex benefits decision tabled" at Univ. Southern Indiana
Kate Braser's report today in the Evansville Courier & Press includes these quotes:
The University of Southern Indiana board of trustees opted not to vote on a resolution Saturday that would have extended employment benefits to same-sex domestic partners.University President H. Ray Hoops earlier had submitted the resolution to the board agenda. He said USI is the only four-year public university in the state that does not provide the benefit.
The vote originally was slated for the end of Saturday's meeting, but trustee Ted C. Ziemer Jr. addressed the board at the beginning, asking that the item be removed from consideration.
"I would object to voting on this resolution at this time so that all relevant information can be gathered," Ziemer said. "I have some concern this resolution would be unconstitutional and illegal under state law, and I think we need time for our administrators to get legal opinions." * * *
Opposition had surfaced quickly after word spread of the proposal.
Keller Schroeder & Associates, a local technology consulting company, sent a letter to the university asking it to reject the resolution.
Also, Glen Kissel, assistant professor of engineering, said as of midday Friday, more than 2,500 e-mails opposing same-sex domestic partner benefits had been sent to Hoops and the board of trustees, as well as to Gov. Mitch Daniels. He said the e-mails came from supporters of the American Family Association of Indiana.
Kissel was among several at the meeting who said they were pleased the trustees opted not to address the resolution.
"I think it was wise to delay the decision until more consideration can be given," said Mike Lockard, a USI alumnus.
Lockard said he agreed officials needed to study Indiana law further. He also said extending benefits to same-sex domestic partners "creates a separate class."
"What about heterosexual partnerships?" he asked.
Lockard said while other state schools may offer the benefit, many private colleges in the state do not, and he disagreed with the assertion it would attract better candidates to faculty positions.
"What is wrong with the faculty here now?" he asked. "I went to school here, and my daughter does now, and this is a fine school. It's not been a detraction up until now."
Kissel previously said he wanted the university to consider a more inclusive plan that would extend domestic partner benefits beyond same-sex relationships. After Saturday's removal of the item from the agenda, Kissel said he was pleased.
"I am very happy the discriminatory homosexual-only domestic partner benefit has been set aside," he said.
Chad Tew, associate professor of online journalism, said he has been active in trying to get the resolution in front of the trustees.
"I am very disappointed they tabled it," he said. "It doesn't mean it was defeated, so in that sense I am hopeful. I can tell you the majority of faculty are behind this, and we will work with the administration in any way to give the board the information they need.
"I don't buy that objection with relation to it being a legal issue. The states that have had problems have been those states with a constitutional amendment defining marriage as between man and woman, and that was defeated soundly in Indiana."
Posted by Marcia Oddi on May 11, 2008 12:06 PM
Posted to Indiana Government | Indiana Law